Zach Brown an immediate upgrade for Redskins' run defense

ORCHARD PARK, NY - SEPTEMBER 25: Aaron Williams #23 of the Buffalo Bills talks to Zach Brown #53 during a break in the action during their NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at New Era Field on September 25, 2016 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

In 2016, the Washington defense struggled against the ground game on third down. On 43 third-down rush attempts, the Redskins’ defense surrendered 24 conversions, for an unsatisfactory run-conversion percentage of 55.8.

Inside linebackers Mason Foster and Will Compton saw the majority of snaps against the run last season, managing run-stop percentages of 7.8 (24th at the position) and 6.3 (32nd), respectively.

New signing Zach Brown ranked fourth among all inside linebackers in total stops, with 38 in 2016. His run-stop percentage of 8.9 percent betters Washington’s incumbents. Brown put on a stellar performance against New England in Week 4 of the 2016 season, where he accounted for 11 solo defensive stops.